The Jews Sabbath Antiquated and the Lords Day Instituted, Position 7

The Jews Sabbath Antiquated and the Lords Day Instituted · Position 7

p. 246POSITION VII. The Lords Day muſt be kept holy to the Lord.

THe very appellation of it together with the Obſervation of the Apoſtles and Primitive Chriſtians is ſufficient proof of this. 'Tis a pious and ponderous ſpeech of a late worthy Writer,Dr. Cheynels Treatiſe of the Bleſſed Trinity, p. 402. The approved practiſe of the primitive Chriſtians declares the doctrine of the Apoſtles, and the doctrine of the Apoſtles ſhews what was the command of Chriſt the Lord of the Sabbath concerning the ſanctification of the firſt day of the week, which is therefore called the Lords day, and the Chriſtian Sabbath. If it be the Lords day (as we have proved) then let it be conſecrated to the Lord as holy and honourable,Iſai. 58.13.Isa 58:13 even to that Lord whoſe name it bears, to him, I ſay, who hath on his veſture and on his thigh a name written,Rev. 19.16.Rev 19:16 King of kings, and Lord of Lords; even the Lord of glory, a Lord as far above the greateſt lords on earth, as they are above their meaneſt Subjects. 'Tis the Lords day and therefore the Lords due; let us render to Chriſt the things that are Chriſts: Why did the Lord make this day, but that all his faithful ſubjects and ſervants ſhould keep it, and keep it holy to him that made it? O let the law of the living God over-awe our Conſciences, which is ſtill in force for a day of weekly worſhip at his appointment, and ſuch we have proved the Lords day to be. More Arguments p. 247might be produced, But thoſe already urged are ſufficient to ſecure this truth from the dread of that downfall threatned by the Adverſary. The Devil and his agents may puff at the Chriſtian Sabbath, but confident I am, they ſhall as ſoon blow out the Sun with a pair of bellows, as totally extinguiſh this Ordinance of Chriſt: the chief ground of my confidence is the Word of God, upon which it is founded; and next to that the writings of the antients, ſo many in ſeveral Countries, and ſeveral ages bearing witneſs as one man to this Chriſtian cauſe, with whom although I would be loth to err in any thing, yet do I the leſs miſtruſt my ſelf to err, while I keep them company, and do with more confidence look an adverſary in the face, when my quiver is full of their Teſtimonies, as a late Author ſpeaks on another occaſion. To draw to a Concluſion, from Doctrinal Poſitions about the Chriſtian Sabbath, we ſhall deſcend to ſome practical Directions; I cannot ſtand to ſpeak fully and largely to the duties of the day, neither need I; other Treatiſes have done it already as Mr. Sprints, Mr. Shepheards, Dr. Gouges, but eſpecially Mr. Philip Goodwins; only for the help of thoſe that want thoſe excellent helps, I ſhall hint a few things, and commit all to the bleſſing of him whoſe day and honour I have argued and contended for.

Briefly, the practice of the Chriſtian-Sabbath ſtands chiefly in two things, viz. In preparation to it, and ſanctification of it.

1. There muſt be ſolemn and ſerious preparation the evening before, to get our hearts into a Sabbath frame, this the Lord calls for in the very front of the Commandement, Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy, remember it before it comes, that you may keep it holy when it comes; this word [Remember] ſhould be as a bell to toll us in from our Shops and Farms, to our Chambers and Cloſets, there to commune with our own hearts, to caſt up our ſpiritual accounts, to call over our wants, and (if we have hearts) to weep over our week day ſins, and ſtir up our p. 248ſelves to take hold of Chriſt, that we may make peace with God, they that have any acquaintance with heartwork, find it hard to have to do with a duſty world, full of ſins and ſnares, and not be defiled or intangled with it; earthly things are apt to leave a tincture upon the moſt holy and heavenly hearts: There muſt therefore be a rubbing off this ruſt of the world, a waſhing theſe dirty hearts and hands before we are fit to draw nigh to God in ſolemn Worſhip;Exod. 19.14.Exod 19:14 What were thoſe Ceremonial waſhings of old, but emblematical predictions and documents of preparation to Goſpel-worſhip? and (if I miſtake not) ſomething to this purpoſe is propheſied concerning the pureſt times and Churches in theſe later days.Rev. 15.2, 3.Rev 15:2Rev 15:3 Revel. 15. We read of thoſe that had gotten the victory over the Beaſt and his Image, i. e. thoſe that had ſhaken off the yoke of Anti-Chriſtian Tyranny and Superſtition, ſtanding upon a ſea of glaſs with the harps of God in their hands; thoſe harps in their hands ſpeak them in a poſture of publike worſhip. But what means their ſtanding upon a ſea of glaſs? Why among other things, I conceive, it alludes to that Laver or**1 Kings 7.23.1 Kgs 7:23 ſea in Solomons Temple, in which the the Prieſts were wont to**2 Chron. 4.6.2 Chr 4:6 waſh when they went to worſhip, and it may teach us thus much, that the people of God under the Goſpel, as well as they under the Law, muſt waſh before they worſhip, there muſt be ſome preparation.

Secondly, the ſanctification of the Sabbath follows, and this alſo conſiſts in two things. Holy reſt, and holy work. Firſt, we muſt keep it as a day of holy reſt to the Lord, reſting from our own works, our own words, and our own thoughts.

1. We are bound upon the Lords day to reſt and ceaſe from our own works, whether works of labour, or works of pleaſure, if I may ſo diſtinguiſh. The Lords day muſt neither be our working-day, nor our play-day; both theſe are prohibited by the letter of the fourth Commandment, and the analogy of that Text which ſeems to be written p. 249as a Commentary upon the Commandment, Iſai. 58.13, 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleaſure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and ſhalt honour him; not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleaſure, nor ſpeaking thy own words, &c. In which words we have the lively Picture and Pourtraiture of a true Sabbath, in both parts of it; it muſt be celebrated with reſt from our own ways, works, words, pleaſures, and this reſt muſt be accompanied, with a ſpiritual rejoycing in God, and delight in his Sabbath, ariſing from an honourable eſteem of the day, conſidering whoſe day it is, namely, the Lords. Now the ſcope of this Text is as applicable to our Chriſtian Sabbath as ever it was to the Jews Sabbath, ours being firſt, a day of holy rejoycing in the Lord as well as theirs, Pſal. 118.24. Secondly, a day which hath the Lord for its author as well as theirs. Thirdly, a day every whit as honourable as theirs, yea a degree above it, being inſtituted upon a more noble account, Viz. The moſt gracious and glorious work of Redemption. Fourthly, a day in all reſpects as holy as theirs, holy I mean, in reſpect of ſeparation and dedication to holy duties, as prayer, preaching, breaking of bread, praiſe and thankſgiving, Acts 2.1. and 20.7. Pſal. 118.27, 28. Therefore it muſt be kept with reſt from accuſtomed labour and pleaſure, as well as theirs, and that by vertue of the fourth Commandment, which requires the ſanctifying of one day in ſeven of divine appointment as a Sabbath, with reſt from ſervile works, and ſecular imployments. And let it be further conſidered, both the fourth Commandement and the Prophet Iſaiah in commenting upon it, do firſt and chiefly call for ſanctity; Secondarily, for reſt: Firſt, Remember the Sabbath to ſanctifie it, then, Thou ſhalt do no work. Sanctification is required as the end, ceſſation from labour as the means; the one as principal, the other as acceſſary. Now both Prophets and Apoſtles have markt out the Lords day as a holy day, to be ſpent in holy duties of ſolemn worſhip, p. 250and that weekly; therefore by the Law of God and nature we are bound to keep it as a day of weekly reſt, otherwiſe we ſeparate the end from the means, which cannot be; reſt from ſervile work being an inſeparable adjunct to a day of ſolemn worſhip: What then ſhall we ſay to thoſe that afterwarning make the Lords day either a common working-day, or a ſporting day? the former I may fitly call the Devils workmen, who will one day pay them their wages; the other the fleſh's Bondmen whoſe pleaſure in the end will prove torment without end. The Lord awaken both to repentance better then that of Eſau, whoſe ſin (of the two) is greater then his,**Hebr. 12.16.Heb 12:16 there are prophane Eſau's under the Goſpel, and they are the worſt of Eſau's; there is alſo a ſin called**Rom. 2.22.Rom 2:22 Sacrilege condemned in the Goſpel, and Sabbath-breaking is very like it; when ſinners lay ſacrilegious hands upon that which is conſecrated to the Lord, for a ſin much like to which Ananias and his wife were once ſtricken with ſudden death, and how many ſuch dreadful ſtrokes have been felt and heard in theſe later days? I ſhall not repeat what has been already committed to record by others. Mr. Bernard, Mr. Byfield and ſundry others have been ſerious obſervers of Gods heavy hand in this kind. I could ſay ſomething of what I have ſeen with my own eyes, and heard with my own ears. But I ſhall forbear,Numb. 10.1, 2.Num 10:1Num 10:2 when men are ſtruck dead in the very act of their ſin, as Ʋzzah in touching the Ark, Nadab and Abihu in offering ſtrange fire, when the ſin and the judgement meet together, and do one point at the other, ſurely Gods hand is not to be ſlighted. Mr. Byfield has related many ſuch tremendous ſtrokes upon thoſe that have preſumed to work on the Lords day, and ended their lives and their work together; having no more reſpit between their ſin and their execution [or expiration] then with trembling lips to tell others the ſecret reflections of their own guilty Conſciences, and how many Malefactors have we heard at their execution, bewailing their profanation of the Lords day, as the leading-cauſe of all their miſchiefs and miſeries? p. 251Now the Conſcience of the ſinner ſmarting under Gods revengeful rod is many times like a finger to point out the ſin for which God ſmites, as we ſee in the caſe ofaaJudges 1.7, 8.Judg 1:7Judg 1:8 Adonibezek. To be ſhort, the exemplary judgments of God againſt this ſin of Sabbath-breaking, falling in ſo great variety, and happening ſo thick together in many places, do call aloud to the inhabitants of the earth tobbIſai. 26.9, 10.Isa 26:9Isa 26:10 learn righteouſneſs; and it is doubtleſs our duty with humble reverence, and holy awfulneſs of the divine Majeſty ſoberly to obſerve and improve them, inadvertency of Gods judiciary proceedings is accPſal. 28.5. and 10.4, 5. Iſai. 5.12.Ps 28:5Ps 10:4Ps 10:5Isa 5:12 ſin frequently condemned in Scripture, and ſeverely threatned. Reader, if neither Scripture-Arguments, nor exemplary judgments will reclaim thee from violation of the Lords day, proceed on in thy prophaneneſs ſtill; it may be the Lord will make thee the next example, to teach others what thou wilt not learn thy ſelf.

Something might alſo be added from Chriſtian experience, 'tis obſervable, that when the Spirit comes effectually to convince of ſin, commonly one of the firſt ſins which the eye of inlightned Conſcience fixes upon, is the neglect of the Lords day, and (conviction ending in converſion) one of the firſt duties which the ſoul comes ſeriouſly to cloſe withal is the ſtrict obſerving of the Lords day, grace works much this way, and does exceedingly diſpoſe the heart to this duty; for which I dare appeal to the Conſciences of many thouſand living Witneſſes.

Add to this the ſpiritual profit and ſenſible growth of grace, with the ſweet comfort and final peace experienced this way. Tell me, where does true Religion thrive better, and the power of godlineſs flouriſh and proſper more than in Families, Cities Countries and Kingdoms where the Lords day is duly obſerved? on the contrary, where does ſuperſtition, irreligion, Atheiſm and profaneneſs abound more than where this day is neglected and vilified? 'tis a ſerious Obſervation of a learned**Dr. Hakewils diſcourſe of the Inſtitution, dignity, and end of the Lords day. Author, concerning the ingreſs and progreſs of Popery in former times: p. 252Namely, That after-ages much degenerating from the ſimplicity of the Primitive times, ſo infinitely multiplied and magnified their holy-days beyond all meaſure and reaſon, that the Lords day began to be ſlighted, and accounted with many a common Holy-day, perchance inferiour to ſome of their Saints days; which no doubt was a ſpecial occaſion of that thick cloud of Superſtition, which afterwards overſhadowed the face of the Church; and in appearance the reducing of this day to its original honour would prove the readieſt means to reſtore the Church again to her original lustre and beauty even in thoſe places where that cloud is not yet diſpelled, &c. But this by the way.

Secondly, In order to the ſanctifying of the Lords day, we muſt ceaſe not only from doing our own works, but from ſpeaking our own words. Good reaſon, for it is none of our own day, therefore let none ſay Our tongue is our own on this day. Chriſtian, if thou canſt not ſpeak religiouſly on the Lords day, learn to ſpeak ſparingly; rather be ſilent, then ſinful in thy ſpeeches. Valerius Maximus reporteth of Zenocrates, that being in company with ſome who uſed ill language he was very mute; and being asked the reaſon, he replyed, It hath often repented me that I have ſpoken, never that I have held my peace. Thus much the Scripture teaches us, That in the multitude of words there wanteth not ſin therefore ddProv. 17.27, 28.Prov 17:27Prov 17:28he that ſpareth his words is wiſe. Indeed if a man ſpeak of heavenly things on the Lords holy day he may with Paul continue his diſcourſe till mid-night, and never ſpeak too much; but of earthly things we cannot ſpeak too little; Oh that our hearts and lips were more heavenly on the Lords day, that there might be more ſprinklings of grace and heaven in all our Sabbath-day diſcourſes! how much were it to be wiſhed that on this day Chriſtians would ſpeak leſs of what they ſaw, more of what they heard in the publike aſſemblies? Alas! ſhould the Lord put that Queſtion to many Chriſtians now, which once he did on this day to the two Diſciples going to Emmaus; What manner of communication is this that ye have one with p. 253another? how would it put ſome thouſands to the bluſh, who have nothing but earth, or froth in their mouths?

Thirdly, we muſt alſo lay a charge upon our hearts not to think our own thoughts on the Lords day.Rom. 7.14.Rom 7:14 For the Law of God is ſpiritual, and bindeth the heart from thinking, as well as the tongue from ſpeaking, or the hand from working. Beſides what vile hypocriſie is it to lay a reſtraint upon our words and actions, when in the mean time we give ſcope and liberty to our thoughts to wander after a thouſand vanities? this is juſt like painted Sepulchres, fair without, but full of rottenneſs, and dead mens bones within. Further, our own vain and worldly thoughts are great diſtractions and obſtructions to the duties of the day,Exod. 8.24.Exod 8:24 like that plague of flies in Egypt, which was ſo vexatious that they could neither work, nor eat, nor drink,and 10.12. but the Flies moleſted them. Such a plague is a worldly heart on the Lords day, a man can neither pray, nor hear, nor meditate, but earthly thoughts peſter and diſturb him; yea, like that plague of Locuſts that devoured all; earthly thoughts eat up all the pleaſant fruit of Sabbaths and Sermons;Luke 8.14.Luke 8:14 yea like thorns they choak the very ſeed of the Word and render it unprofitable: How highly does it concern us therefore on the Lords day eſpecially to look to our hearts? Now if ever Solomons counſel is ſeaſonable,**Prov. 4.23.Prov 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence, Or, Cum omni cuſtodiâ, with all keeping, as ſome read it; ſet guards and double guards upon it, for as Bernard truly ſpeaks, Corde nihil fugacius, Nothing is more flitting then the heart of man; 'tis a wandring Dinah, we had need watch it warily, and check it ſpeedily when it begins to hanker-after the world: In a word, to cure evill and earthly thoughts on the Lords day, we ſhould do well to awe our hearts with the apprehenſion of Gods all-ſeeing eye: 'Tis obſervable that our Lord appeared to his ſervant John upon his own day in a heart-ſearching-ſimilitude, His eyes were as a flame of fire, Rev. 1.14.Rev 1:14not only burning in jealouſie againſt ſin and ſinners, but bright and ſhining as the ſearcher of hearts and tryer of reins, by p. 254which title he then alſo ſtiled himſelf.Rev. 2.23.Rev 2:23 Conſider Chriſtian that on the Lords day eſpecially thy heart lies under the view of that fiery flaming eye of Chriſt; therefore let thy thoughts be none but ſuch as that pure and piercing eye will approve, and if Chriſt as the ſearcher of hearts be not awful to thee, yet me thinks Chriſt as the judge of ſecrets ſhould. O let the terror of that laſt day work upon our hearts every Lords day, the ſeat of the Judge is fitly reſembled by a cloud, not a throne of ſilver or gold, but a cloud: Rev. 14.14.Rev 14:14Now as we know the clouds are ſtorehouſes of refreſhing ſhowres, ſo alſo of ſtorms and tempeſts; and thus doubtleſs that day of the Lord will be as a day of refreſhing to ſome, ſo a ſtormy day of tempeſts and terrors to others; and a great part of the tempeſt of that day will fall upon the thoughts and hearts of men, for**Eccleſ. 12. ult.Eccl 12 God will bring every ſecret thing into judgement; we muſt be accountable not only for idle words, but vain thoughts. And thus much of the firſt thing, we muſt keep the Sabbath as a day of reſt, but we muſt not reſt in this reſt; we muſt not make it a Sabbath of idleneſs, but a Sabbath of holineſs; we muſt not ſo much ceaſe from working, as change our work; ſervile work for ſoul work, worldly imployments for ſpiritual exerciſes: That is the next thing.

2. To our holy reſt we muſt join holy work, and this is either publike or private; ſomething indeed muſt be done in private before the publike, our cloſet-devotions and Family, duties common to other dayes muſt not he omitted this day, but rather augmented; their Sacrifices under the Law were**Numb. 28.9.Num 28:9 doubled upon the Sabbath-day, and obſerve it,Exod. 3.7.Exod 3:7 their firſt ſervice was the burning of Incenſe before the Lord.Matth. 28.1. Mark 16.2. John 20.1.Matt 28:1Mark 16 Now prayer is our Incenſe, let this be our morning exerciſe in private. Seek the Lord, O my ſoul, ſeek him early, do as Mary Magdalen did, ſhe was early up to ſeek him whom her ſoul loved; ſhe was laſt at the Croſs, and firſt at the Sepulchre, in the dawning, while it was yet dark, very early in the morning ſay the Evangeliſts. Oh that our love to Chriſt could keep pace p. 255with hers! Shall we love the world better than Chriſt? if we have a journey to go about worldly concernments we can ſet out betimes; oh that we were as wiſe for our ſouls, as we are for our bodies! let not ſleep (that devourer of time) beguile us of our golden hours in the morning in which we are freſheſt and fitteſt for converſe with God; let the ſluggard that ſleeps with the Sunbeams in his face remember that ſaying of Auſtin; If the Sun could ſpeak, how roundly might it ſalute thee with this reproof? I laboured more then thou yeſterday, and yet I am riſen before thee to day. But this is too low an Argument, behold the Sun of righteouſneſs is riſen, and he roſe early this day, therefore let us not ſleep as do others, but ſay and ſing with the Church,ffIſai. 26.….Isa 26 With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night, yea, with my ſpirit within me will I ſeek thee early.

Having performed our morning exerciſes in private how cheerfully ſhould we repair to the publike Aſſemblies and draw nigh to God in publike Ordinances, on this acceptable day, this ſeaſon of grace, when Chriſt ſits in State (as one ſpeaks) ſcattering treaſures of grace amongſt hungry and thirſty Saints that are poor in Spirit, and wait for ſpiritual alms at the Throne of grace? ggPſal. 84.1, 2.Ps 84:1Ps 84:2How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hoſts! My ſoul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: My heart and my fleſh cryeth out for the living God. And again,hhPſal 122.1.Ps 122:1 I was glad when they ſaid unto me, let us go into the houſe of the Lord. For the iiPſal. 87.2.Ps 87:2Lord loveth the gates of Zion more then all the dwellings of Jacob; and moſt ſweetly the Prophet Iſaiah (ſpeaking of Goſpel-times)kkIſai. 2, 1, 2.Isa 2:1Isa 2:2 Many people ſhall go and ſay, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the houſe of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. A moſt lively prediction of our Chriſtian ſolemn Aſſemblies, the ſelect ſeaſon of which is ſignified by t he practice of the Apoſtles and Primitive Saints to be the firſt day of the week; on this day they met to break p. 256bread, and Paul preached to them, Acts 20.7. on this day they were all together. with one accord in prayer, (Acts 2.1. with chap. 1.2, 4.) and at theſe meetings the Scriptures were read by the Apoſtles command,Tertul. Apol. cap. 39. Col. 4.16. 1 Theſ. 5.27. to which may be added ſinging of Pſalms, uſual at their ſolemn Aſſemblies, 1 Cor. 14. an Ordinance by which God is much glorified, and the ſouls of his people ſweetly cheered and refreſhed; what greater act of honour can we do to the great God here on earth then publikely to praiſe him in the great Congregation? eſpecially on the Lords day,Pſal. 111.1.Ps 111:1 when all the Churches of Chriſt in the world joyn conſort with us in this melodious duty?Hebr. 10.25.Heb 10:25 Let us not therefore forſake the aſſembling of our ſelves together, as the manner of ſome is; while we enjoy publike Liberties and Ordinances, let us improve them; we know not how ſoon the ſongs of the Temple may be turned into howlings, and Ichabod may be written upon all our Church-doors, the glory is departed from Iſrael; Lam. 1.4, 16.Lam 1:4Lam 1:16the ways of Sion de mourn, becauſe none come to her ſolemn aſſemblies. The Lord forbid that ever we ſhould live to ſee that woful day, wherein we ſhall deſire to ſee one of the dayes of the Son of man, but ſhall not ſee it: Let not our neglect of the Lords day provoke the Lord to deprive us of it; let us conſcienciouſly wait upon God in Sabbath-Aſſemblies and publick Ordinances, leſt we be forced (for contempt of the publike) to ſeek our bread in ſecret wandring up and down in caves and dens of the earth, deſtitute, afflicted; tormented, as we read of ſome, better than our ſelves, Heb. 11.38, 39.

Laſtly, The publike ſolemnities of the day being ended, what remains but that we return again to our private exerciſes? ſearching the Scriptures concerning the truths taught in publike, as the**Acts 17.11.Acts 17:11 noble Bereans did; to which we may joyn Repetition and Conference, to whet the Word upon one anothers hearts; let not our ſouls be weary of Sabbath-work, only take heed, as of reſting in the reſt, ſo alſo in the work of the day: p. 257for what one truly ſpeaks of duties and actings of grace, [they are good duties and good graces, but bad Chriſts] the like may I ſay of Sabbaths never ſo well kept, they are good Sabbaths, but bad Saviours; let our reſt and confidence be only in Chriſt, and to ſuch as take him for their reſt, his work is but recreation, and ſo indeed we ſhould eſteem it in a ſpiritual ſenſe; not looking upon it as a ſowr task, or a rigid exaction, but calling the Sabbath a delight, we ſhould keep it accordingly, even the whole day, with the whole man, as a day of delights to the Lord, being tranſported beyond fleſh and the world, and having our converſation in heaven, as much as is poſſible for creatures cloathed with fleſh.

To come to a cloſure, There is a double duty to be performed in private on the Lords day, which I ſeriouſly adviſe Chriſtians to make Conſcience of; namely, the ſpiritual duty of meditation, and the celeſtial duty of praiſe.

Firſt, how ſeaſonable it is on the Sabbath to meditate, not only on the Word, but the Works of God, appears from Pſal. 92. which is a Pſalm for the Sabbath-day: How does the Pſalmiſt there ſearch and dive into the wonderful works of God? Verſ. 5. How great are thy works O Lord! and thy thoughts are very deep. Here we have a large field, works of Creation, and works of Providence; here our ſouls may wander from ſea to land, See Mr. Baxter Saints ever-laſting Reſt.from earth to Heaven, from time to eternity; yea walk upon the Sun, Moon, and Stars, and enter into Heaven it ſelf, the Paradiſe of God: How manifold are thy works, O Lord, in wiſdome haſt thou made them all! Every creature of God that we caſt our eyes upon this day ſhould be as a flower to feed our Meditations. I ſpeak of curſory Meditation; or that which is occaſional; one ſpecial uſe whereof is to feed our graces by our ſenſes, and (as we are Chriſtians) to conduct us to Chriſt by the view of all creatures and actions; when we look upon the Sun, it bids us look up to Chriſt the Sun of righteouſneſs, every ſtar p. 258may mind us of that ſtar of Jacob, that bright and morning ſtar; if we look upon our houſes, Chriſt is the door; if upon our bodies, he is the head; if upon our clothes, he is the garment of ſalvation; if upon our friends and relations, he is our husband, our friend, our Lord, our Law-giver, our King; if we walk, he is the way; if we read, he is the word; if we eat and drink, he is our food; if we live, Chriſt is our life: that is, a holy heart may make this ſpiritual uſe of all earthly objects and occaſions to contemplate Chriſt in them; and if we improve not our ſenſes this way, 'tis all one as if we were blind, or brutiſh.

But beſides this, there is a more diſtinct, deliberate, ſolemn and ſet meditation required on the Lords day; and the work of Redemption being the occaſion of the day, how ſhould our hearts work upon this bleſſed ſubject! Come Chriſtian, call in thy thoughts from all worldly concernments, and contemplate this rare contrivance of thy Redemption by Jeſus Chriſt; ponder it deeply, get lively and ſtrong apprehenſions of it, that it may leave deep and laſting impreſſions upon thy ſoul; view over the ſeveral paſſages and tranſactions in this Maſter-piece of all Gods works; view it firſt in the platform, how gloriouſly was this laid, in the eternal projects andaaEpheſ. 1.4.Eph 1:4 purpoſes of Gods love! yea in that eternal promiſe paſt between the Father and the Son,bbTitus 1.2.Titus 1:2 In hopes of eternal life which God that cannot lie, promiſed before the world began. Mark it, here was a promiſe, a promiſe of eternal life, made by God, by God that cannot lie, and that before there was a world, or man in the world. Oh the everlaſtingneſs, infiniteneſs, unſearchableneſs of this love of God! that the everlaſting God, the Majeſty of heaven and earth ſhould take care of me before the world was; that he ſhould buſie himſelf and his Son about a worthleſs wretched worm, born out of due time, the leaſt of Saints, the greateſt of ſinners: O my ſoul admire, adore this firſt love, this free love of God and Chriſt!

Next ſee the early diſcovery and ſhining forth of this myſtery in the very morning of the world; no ſooner is p. 259man fallen, but God reaches out accGen. 3.15.Gen 3:15 promiſe to him, and (after many ages) ſends his bleſſed Son out of his boſome to fulfil it; in the ddGal. 4.4.Gal 4:4fulneſs of time Chriſt comes; we could not come up to him, lo! he comes down to us, O ſee the King of glory ſtooping, bowing the Heavens to come down and dwell in a dungeon, to lodge amongſt priſoners, and pitch his tent in the rebels camp. Think O my ſoul, how did the holy Angels wonder to ſee the King of Heaven ſtepping down from his throne to ſit on his footſtool; yea putting off (to the view) the robes of a prince, to put on the livery of aeePhil. 2.7, 8.Phil 2:7Phil 2:8 ſervant, and that, after treaſon had been ſtampt upon it, taking our nature, I mean, after it had been up in arms againſt God; not that he took the ſin of our nature (he that could make our nature without ſin, could alſo, and did take it without ſin) but the ſhame of it he took, in that he took it, when it was under a cloud, under a blot before God and Angels. How does this expreſs the love of Chriſt, a heart full of love to loſt ſinners! q. d. poor ſoult I cannot keep from you, I love your very nature, and will joyn it to my ſelf, and ſo I may ſave you from ſin and wrath, I care not if I become one with you, and dwell in your very fleſh: My glory ſhall not hinder, I will rather veil it for a while, and take the form of a ſervant, and become of no reputation, than you ſhall periſh for ever. Again, how does this ſpeak the unſpeakable love of God;See M^r. Ambroſe looking to Jeſus, p. 342. as one ſweetly obſerves, God did ſo love the very nature of his elect, that though for the preſent he had them not all with him in heaven, yet he muſt have their picture in his Son, to ſee them in, and love them in. O meditate much on this admirable ſtrein of love till it melt thy heart and make it burn within thee!

From the Incarnation of our bleſſed Saviour we may trace him through the ſeveral paſſages of his life, to his death and paſſion, and here with an eye of faith look upon him whom thou haſt pierced, behold the man, as he ſaid, even that man of ſorrows, ſuffering, bleeding, dying on that tree of ſhame and ignominy; dwell upon the death of Chriſt p. 260till it put life into thy dead heart; then follow thy crucified Lord from the croſs to the Sepulchre: and by the way ponder deeply the ſeverity of Gods juſtice, the ſinfulneſs of ſin, the love of Chriſt, and the worth of ſouls, which are not redeemed with corruptible things as ſilver and gold, but with the precious blood of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.18, 19.1 Pet 1:181 Pet 1:19as a lamb without blemiſh and without ſpot. Why did the Primitive Saints ſacramentally ſhew forth the Lords death, on the Lords day, Acts 20.7. but to ſignifie to us, that to contemplate and commemorate the death of Chriſt is a ſpecial duty of the day? So alſo his Reſurrection, which was the great tranſaction of the day, therefore a proper ſubject for ſerious meditation. It is Chriſt that died yea rather that is riſen again, and become the firſt-fruits of them that ſlept. Conſider, O my ſouls the holy triumph of thy Redeemer this day, when he trod on the ſerpents head, took from death its ſting, from hell its ſtandard! Suppoſe thou hadſt ſtood by the Sepulchre, and ſeen the Sun of righteouſneſs (covered with a cloud before) ſhining forth moſt gloriouſly in the morning of the Reſurrection-day; how would this have raiſed, and raviſhed thy heart! How glad were the Diſciples when they ſaw the Lord! ſo glad, that 'tis ſaid, They beleeved not for joy: O the day of Chriſts riſing from the dead was a day of joy and gladneſs!John 20.20. Luke 24.41.John 20:20Luke 24:41 No day like this, when our ſurety was releaſed, the Covenant and ſure mercies of David confirmed, hope revived, heaven and eternal life aſſured.

In the midſt of theſe thoughts who can but cry out with the Apoſtle, O that I may know him, and the power of his reſurrection! Phil. 3.10.Phil 3:10That I may feel the working of that mighty power which God wrought in Chriſt, Eph. 1.19.Eph 1:19when he raiſed him from the dead! O that the ſame **Rom. 1.4. and 6.4, 5.Rom 1:4Rom 6:4Rom 6:5ſpirit of holineſs which quickned Chriſt from the dead this day (and ſo made the day holy) would alſo quicken my ſoul from the death of ſin to the life of holineſs, that like as Chriſt was raiſed up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even ſo I alſo might walk in newneſs of life, being planted into the likeneſs of his reſurrection, as alſo of his death.

p. 261Our hearts being thus tuned by meditation, how ſhould our tongues ſhew forth the praiſes of our precious Redeemer! Let him have the praiſe and the glory of the whole work of our Redemption. Awake my glory, utter a ſong: Sing that Pſalm of John the Divine, Ʋnto him that loved us, Rev. 1.5, 6.Rev 1:5Rev 1:6and waſhed us from our ſins in his own blood, and hath made us Kings and Prieſts unto God, and his Father: To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Thus give unto Chriſt the glory of his death, yea the praiſe of his Reſurrection, ſay with Peter, Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4.1 Pet 1:31 Pet 1:4who acording to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, reſerved in heaven for us. Surely God requires a thouſand thouſand Hallelujahs for this bleſſed work of our Redemption; he calls upon all creatures to join with us in rejoycing upon this account:Iſai. 44.23.Isa 44:23 Sing O ye Heavens, for the Lord hath done it, ſhout O ye lower parts of the earth, break forth into ſinging ye mountains, O forreſt and every tree therein, for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob! Let us therefore devote our ſelves more ſolemnly to this Angelical ſervice; begin the day with prayer, and end it with praiſe, not only in publike but in private. O that every houſe were in this reſpect a temple, that the ſongs of the Temple might be heard in all our tabernacles on the Lords day, that the ſtreets might ring with our praiſes, even the high praiſes of our Creator and Redeemer! 'Tis Scripture counſel, That we ſhould ſpeak to our ſelves in Pſalms, Epheſ. 5, 19.Eph 5:19and Hymns, and ſpiritual ſongs, ſinging and making melody in our hearts to the Lord, and ſinging with grace in our hearts; grace in the heart (as one ſaies well) is the beſt tune to every Pſalm. We muſt ſing with the Spirit, as well as pray with the ſpirit. And therefore we ſhould labour to be (with S. John) in the Spirit on the Lords day. In a word, Chriſtian prudence ſhould direct us to chuſe out ſutable Pſalms for ſuch a ſolemn day, Pſal. 118. is very proper and pertinent, The ſtone which the builders refuſed p. 262is become the head of the corner; this is the Lords doing, and it is marvellons in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will be glad and rejoyce in it. God is the Lord which hath ſhewed us light, &c. Thou art my God and I will praiſe thee: Thou art my God I will exalt thee; O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. Thus much in brief concerning the prime duties of the day. I ſhall conclude all with the words of that Prince of Engliſh Poets:

HERBERT.

O day moſt calm and bright,

The week were dark but for thy light.

The other days and thou,

Make up one man, whoſe face thou art,

Knocking at heaven with thy brow,

The working days are the back-part.

The Sundays of mans life

Thredded together on times ſtring,

Make bracelets to adorn the wife,

Of the eternal glorious King.

Thou art the day of mirth,

And where the work-days trail on ground

Thy Flight is higher as thy birth,

O let me take thee at thy bound!

Leaping with thee from ſeven to ſeven

Till that we both being toſs'd from earth

Fly hand in hand to heaven.

FINIS.